Highlander's Magic (Highlander Heat #2)

“My men surround us, MacDonald.” MacLean attacked aggressively to bring Archie into the play of moonlight, each of his hits stronger than the last. “Do you feel the itch in your back? A dirk will soon be embedded deep within it.”


“Watch for it yourself.” Archie shot forward and landed a vicious blow on MacLean’s left.

They fought, sweat pouring from their bodies. All around the sound of men grunting and fighting surged. She wanted to drown it all out as the cheers came from warriors who’d taken their opponent down. So many were dying. Clan MacLean or MacDonald?

And Archie fought for his life, the urge to kill MacLean clearly spurring him on. He would die before he ever gave up this land.



The urge to kill throbbed through Archie as battle lust rode him hard. Each time one of his men felled a MacLean, their battle cheer rang loud and hastened his attack. “Your men fall, MacLean, and in far greater numbers than mine.”

“You get ahead of yourself, MacDonald, as you did in leaving your faerie behind at the loch. A bad move.” MacLean’s gaze glinted with determination. “A curious wee lass she is to wish herself into the middle of this battle. She’s so charming though, wouldnae you say?”

“I’ll kill you if you’ve harmed her, and I’ll make it as painful as possible.”

“If she survives, I intend to keep her for myself. What say you, Marie?” MacLean searched the trees. “Is this battle all you’d hoped for? You can answer once I’ve killed your warrior if you prefer.”

Damn the man. If Marie was up there, he wouldn’t be able to aid her until he’d won this fight. He slammed his blade into MacLean’s side.

Winded, MacLean grunted and fell back a step. “You’d attack a man as he looks upon the beauty of one of the fae? Shame on you, MacDonald.”

“Then it’d pay for you to keep this fight between—”

A heavy thump sounded at the base of the tree. Marie was bound, gagged and fighting for a breath. In a flash, he slit her bindings and ripped the cloth free. “Breathe, my sweet.”

She gulped in air, her gaze darting over his shoulder. “Behind—”

MacLean’s sword blow knocked him onto his back and MacLean swung again. Archie grappled to meet the attack, their blades crashing inches from his nose. His arm shook as MacLean’s blade drew closer toward his neck. One breath would see cold steel slicing into his throat.

“You appear to be in a predicament.” MacLean sniggered and shoved down harder. “Does one’s life flash afore their eyes as their death hovers?”

“You talk too much, MacLean.” He kicked the man’s shin then rolled as MacLean’s blade nearly nicked his ear.

“Archie. I told you no scratches.”

His woman was telling him off, now? For some reason, relief swept through him. Even a battle couldn’t halt her fighting spirit.

“And I told you no entering the battle. We will have words, and very soon.” He shot to his feet, barely ducking MacLean’s next blow. “MacLean, only the lowest would use an innocent woman as you have.”

“Had she remained where she was, she would still be safe. ’Tis now you who talks too much.”

“Then our talking is over.” Driven, Archie struck MacLean, landing one hard blow after another. With each strike, Marie cried out for him to cease, but he wouldn’t give the man any quarter. Marie’s demand for MacLean’s capture was out. Death was his only option.

He slammed his blade home and MacLean stumbled to one knee. He slid his claymore tight against MacLean’s throat. “Any last words, MacLean?”

“Even if I die, my men will continue to fight, and my son will take my place.”

“Then I’ll see to his death as well.” He pressed until blood oozed. “Although I believe we discussed this being painful.”

“Archie.” Marie rasped his name as she belly-crawled toward him. “I can’t survive this if you kill him.”

“Get back, Marie.” Blood seeped from an open wound on her in the exact spot where he’d cut MacLean’s neck.

“I’m not fae. I’m from the future. Kill him and you kill me. He’s yet to father my paternal line.”

“’Tis impossible.”

“My sister deserves to live even if I don’t. She had no part in this.”

“I willnae concede defeat.” He glared at MacLean and pressed deeper.

Marie screamed and blood streamed down and soaked her shirt.

He yanked his blade back. She couldn’t be dying when only MacLean should, but damn it, she was. “Keep pressure on that cut.”

“He has to live.” She clasped her neck but blood still pulsed through.

MacLean made a grab for his dirk and Archie slammed him back to the ground. Marie moaned and bent over. Hell, he was still hurting her by beating MacLean.

He hauled the man by the scruff of his shirt toward the rope he’d bound Marie in then used it to bind him. Once divested of all his weapons, he raced back to Marie. “Hold still.”

“I can’t stop the bleeding.” Her gaze flared with distress. “Please, you’ve got to help.”

“I will. No one takes you from me.” He ripped a strip from the hem of his shirt and tightened it around her neck.